GERARD HOULLIER will never forget the total support he has had from everyone at Anfield - not least his chairman David Moores and Chief Executive Rick Parry.

The Liverpool boss, recovering from major heart surgery, is now well enough to reflect in-depth on the experiences of the past month.

The continuing solidarity of the Anfield hierarchy behind both the manager and his staff is helping to inspire the remarkable recovery of a man whose dedication to the Liverpool cause is more intense than ever.

He said: "After my operation there were calls by some people to bring in a stand-in manager. This was unnecessary because of the quality of my staff. Phil Thompson has done a wonderful job in my absence along with Sammy Lee, Jacques Crevoisier and Joe Corrigan.

"But central to this has been the way in which David Moores and Rick Parry have showed a total self belief in what we are trying to achieve. They reacted very quickly to those calls for a stand-in boss and stated that nobody would be brought brought in.

" In doing so, they expressed their complete faith in myself and my backroom team. I can tell you that Gerard Houllier was very grateful for that level of support. Both David and Rick are passionate Liverpool fans as well as key figures in our continued progress."

The backing at home has been mirrored by messages of support from around Britain and France. Gerard said: "I've had wonderful messages from people like Bobby Robson, Alan Curbishley, John Gregory, Glenn Hoddle and Peter Taylor.

"But it's not just been in this country. The chairman of the French FA, Claude Simonet, and his chief executive, together with the former national team boss Aime Jacquet and all his staff, have contacted me.

"Many of the managers, too, from the top French sides including Guy Roux and chairmen from clubs such as Metz, Monaco and Lens also sent their best wishes.

"Lastly my old friend Patrice Bergues, who did such a good job while he was here at Liverpool, has called me regularly."